ITSPmagazine is a free online publication that focuses on information technology, cybersecurity, data privacy, the InfoSec community and the influence that all this has on our everyday lives – as businesses, individuals and the society in which we live.

Delivered through articles, podcasts, webcasts, webinars, live panels, event coverage and talk shows, our team of cybersecurity experts explores the topics that matter the most: the human element and its symbiotic effect on the latest in technology, IT security and privacy.

What's Happening At the Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society?

Unusual Gatherings Updates

Unusual Gatherings | Conversations At the Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society is now a fortnightly podcast with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli - and on video when the occasion arises.

Where are we going? Where do we come from? Is technology driving and controlling us, or are we still choosing our own destiny? We are lucky. We have a lot of smart friends, we often meet new ones, and we all enjoy a conversation around a fire, a table, a barrel, a monolith, or whatever is available at the time.

Fortnightly we invite Unusual Guests and we discuss the topics that got our attention.

Pull up a seat, sit back and relax, but most importantly, listen up - or watch.

ITSPmagazine Chronicles

As you know, a chronicle |ˈkränək(ə)l| is a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.Well, sorry, that is not 'exactly' what this is. We like to think of our Chronicles as a succinct mix of commentary and fact.

Most recent chronicles

Lead by IDA Ireland with support from Enterprise Ireland and in collaboration with academia, industry, and government, Cyber Ireland officially launched on 20 May, 2019 as the official establishment of a National Cyber Security Cluster in Ireland, hosted at Cork Institute of Technology. ITSPmagazine’s Sean Martin recorded a podcast with some of the board members and captured some pictures as well.

By Marco CiappelliOn the last day of ISSA Los Angeles Summit XI, I had the pleasure to chat about this event, the present status of cybersecurity, the plans for the future, and few others interesting topics with Mr. Richard Greenberg. We had this conversation while enjoying the view of the Santa Monica beaches from the deck of the gorgeous Annenberg Community Beach House, where this year summit was held for the first time - after outgrowing the original UCLA location and the Universal City Hilton.

I think I can say that this fantastic group of volunteers are doing something right.

In today's episode, I connect with Emily, Dean, and Ted, we look at the current state of security in IT, OT, IoT, and ICS — and the connections between these different environments.

Together, we explore how identity plays a critical role in ensuring a safe environment that can be traced to specific sensors, devices networks, and people. And, with the massive numbers of things hitting the market—and our society—we attempt to answer the question surrounding our ability (or lack thereof) to scale the controls and protections to minimize—or perhaps even eliminate—undue exposure to risk introduced by these things.

Today's episode comes to you in concert with the release of the 12th edition of the Verizon Data Breach Investigation report comprised of data from 73 contributors, the highest number since its launch. Gabriel Bassett, Senior Information Security Data Scientist and John Grim, Senior Manager, Investigative Response Team — both from Verizon Enterprise Solutions — join ITSPmagazine's Sean Martin. We discuss the role of the DBIR in building and maintaining information security programs, what some of the key findings are, and how to make the data actionable.

Today’s episode is a very special one as we get to connect with our good friend, Daniel Eliot, Director of Education & Strategic Initiatives at National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) where he is responsible for building and maintaining NCSA’s newest initiative, CyberSecure My Business. During our quick chat, Marco and Sean discuss our recent partnership announcement and what’s to come during National Small Business Week.

In this podcast I am having a fun — and, hopefully, educational — conversation with my favorite social engineer from Liverpool, Jenny Radcliffe — also know as The People Hacker.

In this first, of many, conversation, we talk about her and about social engineering: the past, present and future of it. For starters, she defines herself as "a life long social engineer" and a "non-technical one," which means that she specializes in the psychology side of it and all that has to do with the so-called human factor — aka, the way the earthlings think, act and react.

Today’s episode is a special one: We have a fun chat with Elena Elkina, co-founder of Women In Security And Privacy (WISP), to kick off and introduce ITSPmagazine’s strategic partnership with WISP! In this short conversation, we get to know a bit about Elena (she’s a partner with Aleada Consulting), the organization (a non-profit whose mission is to advance, advocate for, and increase participation of women in the Privacy and Information Security fields), and why we decided to partner with each other.

During RSA Conference 2019 in San Francisco, Sean Martin sat down with Jill Orhun, Head of Strategy and Operations for Cyber at Devo, Seema Sheth-Voss, VP Product Marketing at Devo, and Chris O’Brien, Head of Technical Marketing at Devo — a group of folks who connect with customers and prospects — to discuss trends and anomalies they’ve seen.

Selena Templeton chats with Tracy Maleeff, cyber analyst in a SOC at GSK, about the importance of diversity in cybersecurity — not the typical diversity bullet points that people always talk about (gender and race), but rather, a diversity of backgrounds. Tracy started her career as a librarian before realizing that her “natural paranoia and distrust of things was a career path,” which led her to InfoSec.

Selena Templeton chats with Sarah Young, Azure Security and Compliance Global Blackbelt at Microsoft, about her non-linear journey into InfoSec. There are plenty of ways into the industry and almost every background – librarian, psychologist, physician, historian – can be an asset. Sarah is one such person, and in today’s episode, she shares entertaining stories and helpful nuggets of advice around mentoring, studying, getting hands-on experience, attending security conferences, etc.

Here at ITSPmagazine, we are always looking for inspiration, muses and revelations. It is what drives us and what usually makes for a good story to tell. For me and Selena, on a sunny Southern California morning, inspiration came in the form of four young students that together make the CyberAegis Aether, an all-girls middle school cybersecurity team from San Diego that is competing in the Cyber Patriot National Finals.

Blockchain — a topic that still gets a lot of attention, even if it seems to be overplayed in the media, the workplace, and in the venture world. So what is it, does it actually provide value, and is there a place for it? Listen in to hear Simon Harman, project lead for the Loki project, and Anthony Stevens, Founder and CEO of Digital Asset Ventures, give their take on why blockchain will—or won’t—be the next big wave of technology deployment in the near future.

In this episode of The Academy, Sean and Selena are joined by Ken Westin from Elastic (and formerly from Splunk) to talk about all things educational in the field of cybersecurity – including training the next generation, bringing the community together, and speaking at security events to raise awareness. Ken has a varied background and brings a lot of expertise to the table in this conversation!

Today’s episode is a special one: We have a fun chat with Mari Galloway, CEO of the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu, to kick off and introduce ITSPmagazine’s strategic partnership with WSC! In this short conversation, we get to know a bit about Mari (she’s a Sr. Security Architect for a large casino in Las Vegas), the organization (a nonprofit dedicated to women in cybersecurity), and why we decided to partner with each other.

“Psybersecurity” when technology, security and safety cross the boundaries and become an integral part of our perception of human security.

I invite you to listen to this podcast, and to do so I am going to use Ryan’s own words: “As the world of devices and technology becomes increasingly connected with human users, the security of each becomes one and the same.”

During RSA Conference 2019 in San Francisco, Sean Martin sat down with Rod Simmons, Vice President of Product Strategy for Active Directory at STEALTHbits Technologies, to get his thoughts and insights into the current state of the Identity and Access Management space through the lens of both the conference sessions and sprawling expo hall(s).

This year, RSA Conference seemed to take a clear shift towards a more friendly and inclusive event, especially in the areas of diversity and wellness. Thom Langford, founder of (TL)2 Security Ltd. and friend of ITSPmagazine, gives his perspective of what has changed at this year’s InfoSec conference.

Sean Martin chats with Amit Elazari of UC Berkeley School of Information, and Leonard Bailey of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division. Today’s topic looks at the life of a hacker, the challenges they face from both a liability and legal perspective, and how organizations deal with the research activities they encounter from both cybercriminals and ethical hackers alike.

Today I am joined by two long-time cyber professionals doing great things to help fill the cyber talent pool with candidates from all walks of life: Julian Waits from Devo and ICMCP, and Ed Moyle from The Prelude Institute. InfoSec isn’t the first industry faced with a shortage in the workforce, so we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Listen in as we talk through some of the scenarios to uncover how we might learn from other industries and roles, such as that of nursing.

Having entered the cybersecurity space just three years ago, no one was more surprised than Selena Templeton to find herself speaking at RSA Conference 2019. In this recap, she shares her experience joining with Karen Worstell, W Risk Group founder, to talk about “Cybersecurity’s Dirty Little Secret and Talent Grenade: Burnout,” other sessions on mental health in cybersecurity, and the overall feeling of camaraderie, openness, healthiness, and mutual support at the conference.